Los Angeles history

Jim Murray's Sports Column Starts in The Times

February 28, 2011 | 10:38
am

Feb. 12, 1961: Jim Murray’s column makes its debut in The Times: “I have been urged by my friends -- all of whom mean well -- to begin writing in this space without introducing myself, as if I have been standing here all the while only you haven't noticed. But I don't think I'll do that. I think I'll start off by telling you a little about myself and what I believe in. That way, we can start to fight right away.”

My apologies, friends. Jim Murray’s column began Feb. 12 and I am just catching up with it now. Like most of the old-time columnists (see Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock), Murray wrote six times a week, an output that is almost unimaginable today. I never met Jim, although I did speak with him once on the phone about the Black Dahlia case (yes, he was rewrite man at the Examiner back in 1947) and he was a very cordial fellow.

I’ll need to rethink my lineup to run six columns a week. I like the idea but as I always say, so many stories and only one Larry Harnisch.